Shavasana, aka: Shava-asana, Śavāsana, Śavasāna, Śavasana; 6 Definition(s)

Introduction

Shavasana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit terms Śavāsana and Śavasāna and Śavasana can be transliterated into English as Savasana or Shavasana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Śavāsana (शवासन) is one of the eighty-four āsanas (postures) taught by Śiva, according to the Haṭharatnāvalī 3.7-20. It is said that Ādinātha (Śiva) hand-picked 84 yoga postures from 84,00,000 living beings and taught them for the purpose of introducing physical health and well-being to the human body. The compound śavāsana translates to śava (corpse) and āsana (posture).

The 17th-century Haṭharatnāvalī is a Sanskrit reference book dealing with these āsanas (eg., śavāsana) which form a major constituent of the haṭhayoga practice. It was written by Śrīnivāsa.

Śavāsana (शवासन) is the name of an āsana (posture), according to Haṭhayogapradīpikā I.33.—Accordingly, “Lying down on the ground, like a corpse, is called śavāsana. It removes fatigue and gives rest to the mind”.

The 15th-century Haṭhayogapradīpikā by Svātmārāma is one of the oldest extant texts dealing with haṭhayoga: an ancient form of meditation founded by Matsyendranātha. The first chapter of this book describes various āsanas (eg., śava-āsana).

Śavāsana (शवासन) is a type of standing posture (āsana), according to verse 70 of the Śrītattvanidhi.—Accordingly, “Lie down on the floor like a corpse. This is śavāsana”.

The 19th-century Śrītattvanidhi is a sanskrit treatise describing 80 primary āsanas, or ‘posture’ (eg., śava-āsana) and several additional ones.

Name and form the same in Iyengar and most yoga schools including Haṭhapradīpikā I.32.

Śavāsana (शवासन) is one of the thirty-two āsanas (postures) taught in the second chapter of the Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā: “Lying supine on the ground like a dead body, is called Śavāsana which removes fatigue and gives relief to the mind”.

Śavāsana is one of the selected 32 postures amongs 8,400,000 total mentioned by Śiva, according to Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā 2.1-2, “In all, there are as many Āsanas as species of animals. Eighty-four lacs of them are mentioned by Śiva. Out of them, 84 are regarded as important and among these 84, again 32 are good (enough) in this world of mortal beings”.

The 17th-century Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā (mentioning śava-āsana) is one of the three classic texts of Haṭha-yoga: a major branch of Yoga, sharing similarities with the Yoga system taught by Patañjali, though claiming its own mythical founder known as Matsyendranātha. This gheraṇḍa-saṃhitā is an encyclopedic Sanskrit treatise describing thirty two such āsanas.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Śavasana (शवसन) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.52.15, I.57) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Śavasana) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Śavasana is also mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.18) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śavasāna (शवसान).—(śav-asānac Uṇ.2.83)

1) A traveller.

2) A way, road.

3) Fire.

-nam A cemetery.

Derivable forms: śavasānaḥ (शवसानः).

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